Forster and Switzerland in Gold at European Champs

Lars Forster, rookie of the BMC MTB Racing Team and of the Elite ranks, took gold with the Swiss Team at the opening event of the European Championships in Husqvarna, Sweden.

It is a MTB tradition; every European and World Championships open with the Team Relay event. Each National Federation presents a team consisting of a female rider and male Junior, U23 and Elite riders. Each of them rides one lap of the cross-country course in an order decided by the national coach. Full of tactics and surprises, this event has lately become a duel between Switzerland and France, two of the strongest nations in the world.

The 2016 UEC European Championships were no exception and the two nations fought from the start gun. Perfectly launched by Marcel Guerrini, Vital Albin and Jolanda Neff, Forster went for his lap a few second position behind the Netherlands who had decided to launch their female rider last. Forster caught her quickly and had time to enjoy the win crossing the finish line with a large Swiss flag in the hand before falling in the arms of his partners for one day. “It is a great start to the weekend!” said Forster.

Strong of this gold medal and of his sixth place at the UCI World Cup in Cairns, Lars Forster will take part to the Elite XCO event on Sunday. “I look forward to racing on Sunday. The course is hard with steep climbs and fast downhills but I like it.” The race can be followed live on www.euromtb.com.